Introduction
Literature is a unique form of art that helps writers impact readers and make them think about certain issues. The authors touch upon society’s problems to reveal them and attract public attention. At the same time, to make the effect stronger, they add symbols to make their messages stronger.
For instance, in the novel Sula, Toni Morrison discusses the vital problems of good and evil, morals, and choice. To emphasize the topic’s significance and impact on readers, Morrison introduces the three main symbols that evolve throughout the work. Thus, the symbols of the birthmark, the tunnel, and the birds are linked to the theme of disillusionment, struggle, and change in the mood of black people who face discrimination and want to struggle for their rights.
Symbolism in Morrison’s Novel
Birthmark
Sula’s birthmark is the novel’s first and most evident symbol. The author places it on the most visible place of her body, immediately above her eyes. Morrison describes her in the following way: “Sula was a heavy brown with large quiet eyes, one of which featured a birthmark that spread from the middle of the lid toward the eyebrow, shaped like a stemmed rose” (52). This location is not occasional as the author devotes much attention to organizing the narrative discourse of black consciousness (Dr. Kirti 487). This visible symbol helps to represent the peculiarities of Sula’s nature and the changes in the story.
At the same time, throughout the novel, the symbol evolves, and people find different interpretations of the birthmark, such as a snake or tadpole. In such a way, it can be considered an essential symbol of Sula’s life and her maturity with the gradual transformation toward a woman struggling for her rights and against racism. The changes in birthmark and Sula’s character occur with age, meaning that this symbol helps to understand the alteration.
Tunnel
The tunnel is another important symbol used by Toni Morrison in the novel. It stands for the attempts to manipulate African Americans and depress them by using authority, power, and discrimination. The New River Road is expected to connect the community living in Bottom with other areas. People believe that when it is opened, “blacks would work” and life would improve (Morrison 151).
However, as the plot evolves, the tunnel transforms from the symbol of hope into the embodiment of disappointment and disillusionment. Morrison describes the tragedy and pain of people who cannot see any change in their lives and must accept the complex reality. She introduces a powerful description of the given symbol’s collapse: “Their hooded eyes swept over the place where their hope had lain since 1927. There was the promise: leaf-dead” (Morrison 161).
It is the moment of realization that the change cannot be expected. The community described in Sula considered the tunnel their future, while its disappearance opened their eyes. Black people cannot expect others to bring them freedom; instead, it is vital to struggle for it.
Birds
Finally, in “Sula,” Morrison uses birds as another powerful symbol, helping to create a particular mood in the story. This type of imagery is one of the favorite ways of expressing strong emotions peculiar to the author (Gonzalez 75). Births have always been associated with various beliefs, meaning they have become a powerful symbol with multiple meanings (Gonzalez 76). For this reason, in Sula, Morrison returns to her favorite approach to speaking about important issues. When the novel’s central figures return to Medallion, they are “accompanied by a plague of robins” (Morrison 89).
Birds leave their place hoping to find something new and necessary for survival. The same idea is reflected in the work as the heroes envision a new life. However, the symbol is also associated with bad news in the story when four dead robins are found. Eva states, “I might have known them birds meant something” (Morrison 91). Moreover, broken wings are a strong image of destroyed hope. In such a way, this symbol transforms in the novel and acquires several specific meanings.
Conclusion
In “Sula,” Morrison offers three significant symbols: the tunnel, birthmark, and birds. They evolve during the story to show how the main characters and their attitudes change. This helps readers better understand the atmosphere, the central message, and the heroes’ lives. Moreover, the symbols make the story more understandable and attract readers’ attention. The powerful imagery contributes to establishing the unique style and making the story one of the masterpieces of modern literature.
Works Cited
Dr. Kirti. “Toni Morrison’s Novel Sula: A Critical Analysis of the Writings.” International Journal of Applied Research, vol. 8, no. 7, 2022, pp. 487-500.
Gonzalez, Susana. “Broken Wings of Freedom: Bird Imagery in Tony Morrison’s Novels.” Revista de Estudios Norteamericanos, vol. 7, 2000, pp. 75-84.
Morrison, Toni. Sula. Vintage Books, 2004.
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